Why I became a Christian

2 minute read

PALM stands for Preparing Arab-world Leaders for Ministry – and that is what it does. It provides the training and equipping that local Arab believers need to become effective spiritual leaders. That training can be provided in several ways, including an orality version which has been designed specifically for those who prefer oral communication. Two-thirds of the world’s population are oral communicators – those who cannot, do not or will not learn through literate means.

One of our PALM trainers was conducting an orality discipleship training programme when she met Mahdi*, who shared his testimony with the rest of the group as to why he became a follower of Jesus.

Mahdi’s Story

I am a Believer from a Muslim Background.

When I was a Muslim, I believed in everything I was taught about Christians and the Bible. When I became a Christian and read the Bible, I realised that what we were told was all wrong.

Jesus was never a Muslim. He is the Saviour of the world. He loves us and wants to save us. We are called to give our hearts to Him.

I converted from Islam to Christianity for many reasons. One reason is the fact that Islam gives no guarantee of salvation.

Other important elements that make Jesus and the Christian message compelling come from the clues in Islam itself.

• Jesus is referred to as ‘the word of God’, ‘the Messiah’ and therefore the Saviour – that’s from surah 3:45 in the Qur’an.
• In the Qur’an, Allah recognises that those who follow Jesus Christ will be above those who do not follow Him (both Muslims and others) until the resurrection – that’s from surah 3:55.
• The Qur’an itself recognises that Jesus is without sin (surah 19:19), while it asks Muhammad to pray for the forgiveness of his own sins (surah 40:55). Unlike Muhammad, Jesus lived more than thirty-three years and never sinned.
• I became a follower of Jesus because He tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
• Jesus Christ confirmed His words with all kinds of miracles and His resurrection from the dead.
• Muhammad is quoted in asking Muslims to turn to Christians to get the truth (surah 10:94).
• Jesus delivers all kinds of captives and gives eternal life in heaven to all those who come to Him (John 3:17).

I converted because, despite Muhammad’s claim to be the Seal of the Prophets, he has died and will never return, but Jesus Christ, whom I previously hated, has died, been raised from the dead, and will also return in the Second Coming.

I converted because the birth of Jesus Christ changed the whole world and not just a community, and there are many more reasons besides these few that I have outlined!

*Name changed and library image used to protect identity.